To die in vain

Gu Jinghong was completely stunned.

She stared blankly at Xiao Chengyan, at the almost cold-blooded analysis on his pale face, at the helplessness and determination in his eyes that he had to tell a huge lie to protect her... Her heart was in turmoil, filled with mixed feelings.

So that's how it is.

It's not that he doesn't want to clarify, but that he can't.

That phrase "something is different," that "stay by my side," that seemingly benevolent but actually prison-like east wing—was the only way out he fought for for her after weighing the pros and cons.

absurd!

sad!

Yet... it carries a cold reality.

Seeing that she was still somewhat lost and confused, Xiao Chengyan's gaze swept over the magnificent yet unfamiliar east wing room. "Alright, now that things have been explained, you should be at ease. As for Grandmother's arrangement... having you move into Chen'an Residence is a temporary measure, but the imperial decree has been issued and cannot be changed. From today onwards, you can live here in peace."

He paused, then added meaningfully, "It's not that I really intend to treat you like a maid. Being closer to me will also prevent... any further accidents from happening."

Looking at Xiao Chengyan's expression, Gu Jinghong felt that his words were both an explanation and a warning—she had better behave herself under his watchful eye.

She lowered her eyelashes, concealing the turbulent emotions surging within her eyes, and replied in a low, hoarse voice, "Yes, this servant... understands."

Weariness washed over his face. Xiao Chengyan turned and walked back to the soft couch to lie down. The extreme fatigue made him fall into a deep sleep in no time.

Gu Jinghong silently closed the door for Xiao Chengyan, got up and left. She glanced at the butterfly tattoo on her collarbone and for the first time truly felt doubt and interest in it.

Why is such a high-ranking prince, deeply favored by the Empress Dowager, still single? With his status and position, what kind of noblewoman wouldn't he have wanted? Why is the Empress Dowager so worried that he has "no one by his side"?

These questions lingered in Gu Jinghong's mind, yet she dared not ask Xiao Chengyan directly.

Firstly, she had no standing; as a maid, how could she interfere in the prince's love affairs? Secondly, Xiao Chengyan was a man of deep thoughts; if she wasn't careful, she might end up losing more than she gained and exposing herself, which would be disastrous.

Her eyes flickered slightly—Changfeng, Xiao Chengyan's most trusted personal guard, might know something.

The opportunity came later in the afternoon.

Changfeng came to Chen'an Residence and stood guard outside the gate and under the porch.

Gu Jinghong, carrying an empty medicine bowl, pretended to be going to wash it, gently pushed open the door, and walked towards the long wind in the corridor.

"Guard Changfeng." She tried to make her voice sound calm and natural.

Changfeng turned his head at the sound of her voice, and when he saw her, his eyes instantly turned cold, revealing undisguised scrutiny and disgust. He nodded slightly in response, but his demeanor kept her at arm's length.

Gu Jinghong was stung by the coldness in his eyes. The words she had prepared lingered on her tongue, but she finally forced herself to speak, her voice extremely low: "Your Highness... he seems rather indifferent to matters of love and romance? The Empress Dowager also seems to..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

Changfeng's lips curled into an extremely sarcastic smile as he coldly interrupted her: "Miss Gu, why are you asking about this? What new 'plan' are you plotting?"

Gu Jinghong thought Changfeng was worried about Xiao Chengyan, so she kindly comforted him: "The imperial physician said that His Highness only needs to rest."

Changfeng suddenly raised his voice, his eyes filled with anger: "So what?!"

Upon seeing this, Gu Jinghong's initial warmth suddenly turned cold, but her face remained unmoved: "Guard Changfeng, I know you've disliked me for a long time, haven't you?"

Although Changfeng didn't have a good impression of Gu Jinghong, he still felt something was off when these words came from such a delicate woman in front of him.

Gu Jinghong scoffed and took another step closer: "You think I'm scheming to return the prince to you, that I'm arrogant and ignorant, taking advantage of the prince's kindness, and repeatedly testing the prince's bottom line to achieve my own goals, right?"

Changfeng stood there, stunned, unsure how to respond.

“But Guard Changfeng, don’t you know best whether the Prince is a kind-hearted person or not? How did he get the title of ‘Prince Jin’? You have served him for many years, so you should know his character. If I were really that heinous person, would the Prince let me ‘cause trouble’ in the mansion, and even protect me?”

"...Or does Guard Changfeng think that Your Highness is not as smart as you, and therefore cannot see through me?"

Gu Jinghong pressed closer again, forcing Changfeng to retreat.

“I told you yesterday that the potent drug had nothing to do with me, but you didn’t believe me. Today, the Prince is protecting me, which proves that I didn’t administer the drug… Guard Changfeng, you’re so smart, how could you not understand?… Now, I’m just asking about the Prince’s past. If you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t. Why are you speaking so veiledly, creating unnecessary discord between us?”

Seeing Changfeng deep in thought, Gu Jinghong turned to leave.

Upon seeing Gu Jinghong's pressing questioning, Changfeng's pupils suddenly contracted, and his face grew even more unsightly. He abruptly raised his voice and said to Gu Jinghong's retreating figure, "Miss Gu, the matter of the warm pavilion has nothing to do with you. Please put away your filthy thoughts and stay away from the Prince. The Prince's body cannot withstand the repeated torment of a woman like you!"

Gu Jinghong suddenly stopped, but did not turn around.

Changfeng pointed at the tightly closed door, his voice trembling slightly with agitation and anger: "Open your eyes and look at the state of the Prince! He is the King of Jin, a commander who needs to lead thousands of troops on the battlefield and intimidate enemy nations! But what about him now? Last night, that potent drug almost killed him, and now he is severely weakened and exhausted! If something changes at the front lines right now, if the enemy's iron cavalry knocks on the gates, how can he put on his armor and go into battle in this state? Are we going to have him drag his crippled body to the front lines to die in vain?!"

The words "to die in vain" struck Gu Jinghong's heart like a heavy hammer.

Gu Jinghong had never considered it from this perspective. She only thought that he was a noble prince, protected by the Empress Dowager, and treated by the best imperial physicians; his recovery was only a matter of time. Changfeng was always making a mountain out of a molehill, so why didn't he believe her? But now, Changfeng's questioning tore away the facade.

Changfeng looked at her suddenly pale face, his eyes devoid of any pity. "Why do you think the Empress Dowager is worried? Do you think that those covetous enemies in the court and beyond the borders will stop their advance and raise their swords just because you, Gu Jinghong, think 'the Prince will definitely have enough time to recover'? Can war wait?"

Gu Jinghong was merely Gu Gefu of Zhuoyue Tower. The court secrets, the dynamics of various forces, the promotions and demotions of generals, and the battle reports from the border that she used to collect were nothing more than cold, hard intelligence to be sold, transactions piled up with gold and silver, and bargaining chips to be played with in the scheming of human hearts. She was well-versed in this, believed herself to see through it all, and manipulated it all.

But now, these very things, presented to her in a bloody manner by Changfeng in a questioning manner, have been brutally hurled at her!

Those "warfares," "losses," and "tense situations" that she had once coldly analyzed, even with a hint of contempt, suddenly transformed into Xiao Chengyan's pale face, into the bloodshot anger and heartache that almost burst forth in Changfeng's eyes, into the blood-soaked roars of the soldiers on the front lines, and into the beacon fires that would ignite if the country's borders were lost!

And Gu Jinghong, this intelligence broker who manipulates information in the shadows and even attempts to steal things that can influence the course of the war, appears utterly despicable and insignificant in the face of King Jin Xiao Chengyan and his loyal servant Changfeng, who truly shoulder the burden of their country with their own flesh and blood.

She was speechless, her heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making even breathing difficult. The undisguised pain and hatred in Changfeng's eyes made her realize for the first time so clearly what her previous actions meant to others. And Xiao Chengyan's current weakness signified such a heavy responsibility and risk.

She gripped the empty medicine bowl tightly in her hand, her fingertips icy cold.

For the first time in her life, Gu Jinghong had the urge to flee – and that's exactly what she did. She didn't even dare to look at Changfeng before hurriedly leaving the corridor, leaving behind Changfeng's still cold and hostile gaze, like two thorns stuck in her back.

She hurriedly handed the medicine bowl to a passing maid who was sweeping, and as she walked to the door of the bedchamber, she paused slightly and, as if possessed, pushed the door open to look inside.

He lay there with his eyes closed, still pale, still handsome, even with a scholarly air about him, making it hard to associate such a man with a commander.

His brow was slightly furrowed at this moment. His unrecovered health made it difficult for him to sleep peacefully, and a few indistinct murmurs escaped from his lips.

On his bedside table sat a half-read military strategy book, and on the long table lay an unfinished grain and rations ledger... These things, which in the past would have made her eyes light up and her mind race, now seemed to have lost their luster and could no longer arouse her any interest.

Looking at the fine beads of sweat constantly seeping from Xiao Chengyan's forehead, Gu Jinghong suddenly thought of how he fought desperately against the effects of the medicine yesterday—it seemed that the peace and tranquility of the people of Dayong was silently maintained by such uncompromising people.

Her gaze swept over his furrowed brows, and for some reason, Gu Jinghong recalled the map on the wall of his study... At the foot of Fengzhang Mountain, that small country once marked 'Southern Wind' had been reduced to ashes ten years ago. Where are those survivors now?

She sighed softly, turned and walked into the bedchamber, then wrung out a warm handkerchief from the basin and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.

She temporarily shelved her plan to steal the token... In any case, she had to wait until he was truly recovered.

Thinking of this, Gu Jinghong's brow twitched—she would actually abandon her mission for a complete stranger... Even she subconsciously felt a sense of absurdity and unease.